The Job Description of a Field Assistant

Field assistants work in a variety of fields and research areas. This is a broad field as it covers many research fields, including science, animal training, marketing and social science. Wages ranged from $15 an hour to $66,000 annually as of May 2008.

Education and Training

Training will depend on the field the applicant enters. Many scientific field assistants must obtain at least an associate's degree if not a bachelor's degree, while others require only a high school diploma.

Skills

All field assistants must pay attention to details, possess strong analytical skills, be able to work independently and have excellent communication skills.

Duties

Duties for field assistants vary. Most field assistants work as research assistants in one form or another and are charged with tasks such as collecting information, analyzing information and organizing the information in a way that makes sense.

Working Conditions

Field assistants work traveling in their field of specialization. Applicants spend long hours sitting or standing and often work nights and weekends, depending on the area of specialization.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Scientists
• Calaveras County: Field Assistant
• Dartmouth: Responsibilities of Field Assistant for NEK-9 SAR Dog Teams
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Science Technicians